During his semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev was ejected from the China Open when a ball he struck hit an onlooker directly in the face.
Medvedev, the tournament’s third seed, was behind Djokovic by a score of 7-5 5-3 when a winning shot from the Serbian player leveled the game at 15-15.
After the ball bounced off the back wall, an irritated Medvedev swung his racket in a backhand motion, launching the ball skyward and striking an observer seated in the front row of the stands directly behind him.
Clutching his face, the injured spectator bent forward and continued to cover his eye while being escorted out of the stadium.
Following a brief conversation with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and a representative from the ATP, the Russian player walked to the net to offer Djokovic a handshake.
“My deepest apologies go out to the spectator first and foremost,” remarked Medvedev.
“I am attempting to contact him, should he be open to it. My hope is to offer a personal apology and check on his well-being.
“My primary concern is simply that he is alright. That is what matters most to me at this moment.”
Following the match, Djokovic—who had experienced his own disqualification at the 2020 US Open under comparable circumstances—offered his support to both the injured fan and Medvedev.
“To be quite frank, it is quite startling. I sincerely hope the individual has not suffered a severe injury,” he noted.
“I sympathize with Daniil as well. Having gone through it myself, I understand the pain of being disqualified from a major contest.
“I am certain that this was completely accidental on Daniil’s part.”
